​Disclosing perpetrators' violent past

Issued: Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Justice Troy Grant, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Pru Goward and Attorney General Gabrielle Upton today delivered on an election commitment by announcing Australia's first Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) and the locations of the pilot sites.

The scheme will commence in four NSW Police Local Area Commands (LAC) from early 2016 in:

Oxley LAC

Shoalhaven LAC

Sutherland LAC

St George LAC

Mr Grant said under the DVDS a person or a concerned third party, such as family, friends or agencies, can make an application to NSW Police for the disclosure of a person's violent offending history.

"This is about preventing people being kept in the dark about potential dangers in their relationships," Mr Grant said.

Ms Goward said domestic violence is about power and control, it is commonly a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour.

"This is another tool that will empower people to make informed decisions about their relationships," Ms Goward said.

"The introduction of the DVDS follows extensive public consultation with government, non-government, specialist stakeholders, and a public discussion paper and roundtables," Attorney General Gabrielle Upton said.

The NSW Government will invest $2.3 million in Police-NGO Partnerships for non-government organisations to provide specialist domestic and family violence support in the four pilot sites. These services will be offered to all primary persons subject of an application. The expert support services will work alongside Police during the disclosure process and will offer post-disclosure support.